Spencer Leak Jr., who helped countless families lay their loved ones to rest, drew hundreds of mourners who lined up Saturday to pay their respects during his celebration of life.
Friends, family and community members gathered at the House of Hope in Pullman to say their final farewells to Leak, vice president of Leak and Sons Funeral Homes and a pillar of the South Side’s Black community.
Leak, who died unexpectedly last month at age 56, spent more than 45 years helping lead the family’s funeral business. Over the decades, Leak and Sons Funeral Homes handled services for several notable Chicagoans, including soul singer Sam Cooke, comedian Bernie Mac, rapper Juice WRLD and drug kingpin William Morris “Flukey” Stokes. Earlier this year, they hosted the Rev. Jesse Jackson funeral.
In attendance were Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson and U.S. Rep Jonathan Jackson, who arrived to pay their respects.
Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was among the many mourners in attendance. Jackson called Leak’s death a “tremendous loss” for the community and said he played a vital role in providing comfort to countless families during some of their most difficult moments.
“It is Spencer Leak Jr. who is responsible for the reconstruction of those who’ve been lost, so that they can have dignity at their funerals, whether they’re rich or whether they’re poor,” Jackson Jr. told the Sun-Times.
Leak’s casket stood at the center of the sanctuary, surrounded by white roses and ribbons in the funeral home’s signature black and gold colors. The lengthy service featured a choir and reflections from several Chicago faith leaders, including Rev. James Meeks and Rev. Michael Pfleger.
Members of the Leak family stood at the front wearing black as they greeted mourners, shook hands and accepted condolences.
Among the crowd was also Elder Tyrone Willis, who’s worked as a painter at the Leak funeral homes for over 25 years.
Willis said Leak was a man of “good rapport” who impacted many lives.
“He didn’t turn away anyone,” said Willis, 75. “His legacy will always be remembered by what he has done in the community and the love he brought to this city.”
Willis, who has worked at all three of the Leak funeral homes, said it was important for him to pay his respects to a family that has always made him feel welcome.
Sharon Rowe said the Leak family helped direct many of her relative’s funerals, but it was Leak Jr. who “made you feel like you were family.”
“He handled the services of people’s loved ones with such care,” said Rowe, 55, of Beverly. “He had such a kind, empathetic touch.”
The Leak family has been in the funeral business since 1933, when the Rev. Andrew Leak, Leak Jr.’s grandfather, started the funeral home with what he saved from working as a bathroom attendant at the Chicago World’s Fair and a loan from his wife. He said he wanted Black Chicagoans to be able to bury their loved ones respectfully.
The couple ran the business with their three sons, including the youngest, Spencer Leak Sr. After Andrew Leak died in 1993, Leak Sr., now 88, took over as president and owner and renamed the business Leak and Sons; Leak Jr. began working there at a young age.
Leak Jr. ‘s son, Spencer “Tre” Leak III, had started working for the family’s business just days before his father died.
Leak Jr. earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mortuary science and funeral service at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He became a licensed funeral director in 1989 at age 20.
He ascended to vice president of Leak and Sons in 1993, before his 24th birthday.
